The best way to drive different cars without buying them is to choose an option that lets you change cars when your life changes, without selling a car or waiting for a contract to end. Buying ties you to one car until you sell it or trade it in. A traditional lease ties you to one car for a set number of years.
There are three ways to have a car: buy, lease, or flex. With Flexcar, you get a car of your own without a down payment or multi-year contract, and you can switch to a different car as your needs change.
What are the ways to drive different cars without buying them?
Most people change cars because their life changed, not because they got bored. A new job adds miles to the commute. A baby needs room for a car seat. A move brings snowy winters. The kids leave home, and a big SUV feels like too much car. Here is how each option handles that.
Buying and trading in. You can drive a different car whenever you sell or trade in the one you have. Each change means a new purchase, a new loan, and new insurance paperwork.
Leasing, one lease after another. You get a different car at the end of each lease. During the lease, the car and the mileage allowance stay the same.
Flexing with Flexcar. You have your own car and can swap it for a different one when your needs change, keep it as long as you like, or return it.
Why is it hard to change cars when you buy or lease?
Life changes don’t follow a loan schedule or a lease term. Traditional ways of having a car are built around one car for several years, so changing cars in the middle usually takes extra steps.
When you buy, changing cars means selling or trading in the one you own. Early in a loan, you may owe more than the car is worth, and you’d need to cover the difference. Then you shop for the next car, apply for a new loan, and set up insurance again.
When you lease, the car, the term, and the mileage allowance are set when you sign. Most leases allow 10,000 to 15,000 miles a year, according to the CFPB. If your needs change partway through, ending a lease early can come with fees, so many drivers keep the same car until the lease ends.
Neither option is wrong. They’re designed for drivers who expect the same car to fit for years.
How does Flexcar let you change cars as your life changes?
With Flexcar, you have a car of your own, and it can change when your life does. Members can keep their car, switch to a different vehicle, or return it without a traditional multi-year lease commitment. Applicable fees and charges may still apply.
Here’s what that can look like:
A growing family swaps a sedan for a minivan.
A move to a snowy city means swapping into a car with all-wheel drive.
A new job with a longer commute means swapping into a car that uses less gas, or moving to a bigger mileage plan.
A car that fits well is one members can keep for as long as they want.
A standard swap is $199, subject to applicable terms. Member rewards may provide swap discounts or benefits, depending on eligibility. Here’s how swaps work. The monthly payment on the next car can be different, depending on the car and plan you pick.
Your mileage can change too. Flexcar offers Standard (850 miles a month), Cruiser (1,200), and Road Warrior (2,000), and you can change your plan from your account. How miles work explains the plans.
How does Flexcar compare to buying or leasing?
Buying | Traditional lease | Flexcar | |
|---|---|---|---|
Changing cars | Sell or trade in, then buy again | Usually at the end of the lease | Swap when your needs change, subject to applicable terms |
Contract length | Loan term, often several years | Set lease term | No multi-year contract |
Upfront cost | Often a down payment, plus taxes and fees | Often money due at signing | No down payment; first month and applicable taxes at checkout |
Insurance | Bought separately | Bought separately | Included in the monthly payment |
Maintenance and roadside | Paid separately | Paid separately, though some leases include some maintenance | Come with the annual membership |
Mileage | No limit | Yearly allowance set at signing | Monthly plan you can change |
When you’re done | Sell or trade in the car | Return it at the end of the term, or pay fees to end early | Return it, subject to applicable terms |
What should you check before you choose?
Whichever option you pick, a few questions show how easy it will be to change cars later:
What does it cost to switch to a different car before the contract or loan ends?
What happens to your mileage if your commute gets longer or shorter?
Which costs are included, and which ones, like insurance and maintenance, are separate?
What happens if you no longer need a car?
Ask the same questions about every option. The answers show how much room you’ll have when your plans change.
What do you pay with Flexcar?
The monthly payment covers the car, your mileage plan, and insurance. Maintenance, covered repairs, and 24/7 roadside come with the $249 annual membership, billed 14 days after pickup. Limits and exclusions apply.
There’s no down payment. At checkout, you pay the first month and applicable taxes, and a refundable deposit may apply. With Flexcar, members can see the vehicle price, mileage plan, and protection costs before completing their order. Prices vary by car, location, and plan.
Flexcar has hubs in eight metros: Atlanta, Boston and New England, Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Nashville, the New York tri-state area, and the San Francisco Bay Area. You can order from your phone and pick up at a hub, or get delivery where it’s offered.
Which option is right for you?
It depends on how likely your needs are to change.
Buying means you own the car. Changing cars means selling or trading it in.
Leasing gives you a newer car every few years. Changing cars in between can cost extra.
Flexing gives you your own car that can change when your life does.
Traditional buying and leasing aren’t the only ways to have a car. Flexcar offers another option without a multi-year lease. See available cars or learn why people flex.
Frequently Asked Questions
With Flexcar, is the car really my own?
Yes. You can drive it as your everyday car for as long as you keep it, without buying or leasing it. Flexcar owns the vehicle, so you don’t have to sell it when your plans change.
Can I end a car lease early to get a different car?
Often you can, but ending a lease early usually comes with fees, and the amount depends on your contract. Check the early termination section of your lease before you decide.
Can you get a car without signing a multi-year lease?
Yes. With Flexcar, you can have a car of your own without signing a multi-year contract. Members can keep their car for as long as they need, switch to a different vehicle as their needs change, or return it, subject to applicable terms.
Keep reading
Insurance is included in the monthly payment with Essential or Enhanced Protection. Insurance limits, deductibles, and exclusions apply. Maintenance, covered repairs, and roadside come with the $249 annual membership; limits and exclusions apply. Swaps, mileage overages, vehicle damage, applicable taxes, fuel, tolls, and other charges may apply. A refundable deposit may apply. Changing vehicles or mileage plans and returning a car are subject to applicable terms. Availability varies. Terms vary by plan and state; see the Membership Agreement.